Collapsible box or box cover



July 5, 1955 K. T. BUTTERY COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR BOX COVER 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed Dec. 10, 1949 y 5, 1955 K. T. BUTTERY 2,712,409

COLLAPSIBLE BOX OR BOX COVER Filed Dec. 10, 1949 2 SheetsSheet 2 United States Patent CGLLAPSIBLE BGX OR BOX COVER Kenneth T. Buttery, Kalamazoo, Mich., assignor to Sutherland Paper Company, Kalamazoo, Mich.

Application December 10, 1949, Serial No. 132,351

4 Claims. (Cl. 229-35) This invention relates to improvements in a collapsible box or box cover.

The main objects of this invention are:

First, to provide a collapsible box, carton, or box or carton cover which may be formed of an integral blank and quickly set up by machinery or manually and one which when set up is very secure.

Second, to provide a carton or carton cover embodying these advantages which may be formed of relatively light stock and at the same time is capable of supporting contents of considerable weight even though repeatedly handled.

Objects relating to details and economies of the invention will appear from the description to follow. The invention is pointed out in the claims.

A preferred embodiment of the invention is illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of a structure embodying my invention which may be used as a box or as a cover for a similar box or a box of proper dimensions to telescope therewith.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged fragmentary view in vertical section on line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary side elevational view of an outside surface of the structure with parts shown in dotted lines illustrating a step of erecting and the relation of the parts in erecting.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the blank.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional view corresponding to Fig. 2 of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

Fig. 6 is a fragmentary plan view of the blank of a modified form or embodiment of my invention.

In the accompanying drawing I have only illustrated one part, which may be either the body or cover of a box or container, as the other part may be a duplicate of the part illustrated, the parts being made in proper relative dimensions to permit their being telescoped. Further, the container as illustrated is adapted for use without a cover and is largely used without a cover, frequently being wrapped with a transparent wrapper after the contents have been placed therein. While I use the terms side and end walls in the description and claims it will be understood that these terms are used for convenience in description and designating the parts, as the container may be rectangular or the parts designated herein as side and end walls may be reversed.

Referring to the drawing, the embodiment of my invention illustrated comprises a bottom 1 and side walls 2 hingedly connected thereto at 3 and end walls 4 hingedly connected thereto at 5. The end walls have corner flaps 6 hingedly connected to the ends thereof at 7. A sheet of container board is suitably cut and scored to provide these several parts and their hinged connections. The side walls 2 have slits therein comprising vertical portions 8 substantially spaced from the end edges 9 of the side walls, these vertical portions having inwardly curved extensions 10 at their lower ends terminating in the scores 3.

The slits adjacent the upper ends thereof are provided with lower and upper inclined or diagonally disposed portions 11 and 12 respectively, separated by substantially horizontally disposed intermediate portions or offsets 111. The outer ends of the slits terminate adjacent the outer edges of the side walls but in spaced relation thereto. The portions 13 and 14 on opposite sides of the slits are laterally deflectable relative to each other 'to receive the side edges 15 of the corner flaps 6. The

corner flaps 6 have outwardly inclined slits 16 therein providing upwardly projecting tongues 17. Portions of the edges 15 above the slits 16 are preferably cut back at 18 to facilitate the deflecting of the tongues 17 into engagement with the upper edges of the inclined portion of the slits when the corner flaps are inserted through the slits. The upper ends of the tongues 17 are inserted through the upper inclined portions 12 of the slits to the inner sides of the side walls and then moved along said inner sides and above the substantially horizontally disposed portions 111 until the tongues abuttingly engage the upper edges of the lower inclined portions 11. This facilitates a substantial overlapping engagement of the tongues with the inner sides of the side walls by a slight movement of said tongues relative to the side walls and provides a relatively strong interlocking engagement of the end wall corner flaps to the side walls. Such construction also facilitates ready assembly of the corner flaps to the side walls.

The extending of the slits to the bottom edges of the side walls and the curving of the bottom portion of the slits as shown at it) facilitates the entering of the side edges of the corner flaps into the slits and permits the bottom edges of the corner flaps to rest on the bottom to be supported thereby. The portions 14 of the side walls lie Within the corner fiaps and are supported thereby. The end edges 9 of the side walls supportingly engage the end walls. With parts thus arranged the end walls are supported against inward collapsing, the side walls are effectively supported and an ellective interlock is provided between the end walls or their corner flaps and the side walls. As shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 5, when the carton is in erected position the inner ends of the bottom edges of the end wall corner flaps 6 are in supported engagement with the bottom 1 inwardly of the lower ends of the side wall slits, and the tongues 17 are in locking engagement with the upper edges of the lower diagonally disposed portions 11 of the side wall slits 8. This locks the end walls 4 and the end wall flaps 6 against any or very little movement relative to the bottom 1 and the side walls 2 when the carton is in erected position thereby providing a generally relative rigid container structure. When erecting the container the upper diagonal portions 12 of the side wall slits being disposed as shown permits the upper ends of the tongues 17 to be quickly and readily inserted therethrough while the inner ends of the bottom edges are of substantial dimensions so that they are not likely to be broken. The structure is strong and rigid and is well adapted for relatively heavy merchandise. The structure illustrated is provided with ventilating openings 19 but these constitute no part of this invention.

'As stated, for closed containers the cover may be a duplicate of the'part illustrated but it should be understood that probably the greater volume of cartons embodying the invention would be used without covers or with a wrapper.

In the embodiment of my invention shown in Fig. 5 the side edges of the corner flaps have inwardly inclined slits 2% extending from their side edges in spaced relation to the slits 16 providing defiectable tongue portions 21 between the slits or facilitating the deflection of the tongues 17 for engagement with the upper edges of the side wall slits. While the slits 2% weaken somewhat the interlocking tongue portion 17 the structure of this modification possesses sufiicient strength for. many uses' In the embodiment illustrated the outer corners of the end' walls are notched at 22 to facilitate the positioning of the blank in an erecting machine.

I have illustrated and described my invention in a highly practical embodiment thereof. I have not attempted to illustrate or describe other embodiments or adaptations as it is believed that this disclosure will enable those skilled in the art to embody or adapt my invention as may be desired.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

1. A collapsible container formed of an integral blank comprising a bottom, side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls and foldable on the outer sides of the side walls in erected position, the side walls having slits therein comprising vertical portions of substantial length spaced from their end edges and extending from points closely adjacent their hinged connections totthe bottom, the slits having inwardly curved lower end portions extending to the hinge connections of the side walls to the bottom, the side walls being hinged to the bottom outwardly of the side wall slits, said slits adjacent their upper ends having lower and upper diagonally disposed portions separated by intermediate portions of substantially less inclination than that of said lower and upper diagonally disposed portions, the portions of the side walls on opposite sides of said slits being laterally defiectable relative to each other to receive the side edges of the corner flaps between them, the corner flaps havin outwardly inclined slits extending from their outer edges providing upwardly projecting tongues engageable with the upper edges of the lower diagonally disposed portions of the said side wall slits with the tips of the tongues engaging the inner sides of the side walls above said intermediate portions of the slits when the container is in erected position, the tips of the tongues being inserted from the outer sides of the side walls through the upper diagonally disposed portions of the side wall slits to the inner sides of the side walls when the container is being erected, the inner end portions of the bottom, edges of the corner flaps being disposed within the side walls in supported engagement with the bottom inwardly of the lower ends of the side wall slits when the tips of the tongues are being inserted through the upper diagonally disposed portions of the side wall slits to the inner sides of the side walls and also when the tongues are insaid engaged positions with upper edges of the lower diagonally disposed portions of the side wall slits when the container is in erected position the portions of the side walls on the outer sides of the slits being within and supported by the corner flaps, and the end walls being in supported abutting engagement with the end edges of the side walls. Q

2. A collapsible box or cover formed of a blank cut and scored to provide a bottom, side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the side walls having slits therein comprising portions of substantiallength spaced from their end edges and approximate- 4 ly parallel therewith and extended at their lower ends to thehinge connections for the side walls to the bottom, the side walls being hinged tothe bottom outwardly of the side wall slits, the slits adjacent their upper ends having lower and upper diagonally disposed portions separated by intermediate portions of substantially less inclination than that of said lower and upper diagonally disposed portions, the portions of the side walls on opposite sides of said slits being laterally defiectable relative to each other to receive the side edges of the corner flaps between them, the corner flaps having upwardly projecting tongues on their side edges engageable with the upper edges of the lower diagonally disposed portions of the said side wall slits with. the tongues engaging the inner side of said intermediate portions of the slits when the box is in erected position, the upper portions of the tongues being inserted from the outer sides of the side walls through the upper diagonally disposed portions of the side wall slits to the inner sides of the side walls when the box is being erected, the bottom edges of the portions of the corner flaps being disposed within said side walls in supported engagement with the bottom inwardly of the lower ends of the side wall slits when the upper portions of the tongues are being inserted through the upper diagonally disposed portions of the side wall slits and also when the box is in erected position, the portions of the side wall on the outer sides of the slits being within and supported by the corner flaps. 3. A collapsible box or cover formed of a blank cut and scored to provide a bottom, side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the side walls having slits therein spaced from their end edges and extending upwardly from the hinge connections for the side walls to the bottom, the side walls being hinged to the bottom outwardly of the side wall slits, the slits having inclined outer portions, said inclined portions having intermediate portions of substantially less inclination than that of the portions at the opposite ends of the intermediate portions, the portions of the side walls on opposite sides of said slits being laterally defiectable relative to each other to receive the side edges of the corner flaps between them,

the corner flaps having tongues on their side edges abut-' tingly engageable with the upper edges of the inclined porit the outer sides of the side walls through the inclined portions of the side wall slits above said intermediate 7 portions when the carton is being erected, the bottom edges of the portions of the corner flaps being disposed within said side walls in supported engagement with the bottom inwardly of the lower ends of the side wall slits when the upper portions of the tongues are being inserted through the inclined portions of the side wall slits above said intermediate portions and also when the box is in erected position, the portions of the side walls on the outer sides of the slits being within and supported by the corner flaps.

4. A collapsible carton or cover comprising a bottom, side and end walls hingedly connected to the bottom, and corner flaps hingedly connected to the ends of the end walls, the side walls having slits therein spaced from their end edges and extending upwardly from their hinge connections to the bottom and terminating adjacent to but in spaced relation to their outer edges, the side walls being hinged to the bottom outwardly of the side wall slits, said slits having diagonally disposed outer end portions and inwardly directed lower end portions providing relatively laterally defiectable portions on opposite sides of the said slits adapted to receive the edges of the corner flaps between them, said diagonally disposed portions of said slits having intermediate substantially horizontally disposed portions, the corner flaps having their vertical side edges provided with downwardly and inwardly extending recesses providing tongues engageable with the inner sides of the side walls directly above said intermediate portions of said diagonally disposed portions of the side wall slits, the upper portions of said tongues being inserted from the outer sides of the side walls through the diagonally disposed portions of the slits above said intermediate portions to the inner sides of the side walls when the carton is being erected, the portions of the side walls on the outer sides of the slits being within and in supported relation to the corner flaps, and the corner flaps having inwardly inclined slits extending from their side edges and spaced below their tongues facilitating the engagement of the tongues with the side walls, the lower edges of the corner flaps being in supporting engagement with the bottom inwardly of the lower ends of the side wall slits when the upper por- 6 tions of said tongue are being inserted through the diagonally disposed portions of said slits above said intermediate portions.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 781,943 Griffin Feb. 7, 1905 1,592,374 Lytle July 13, 1926 2,008,935 Stern et al. July 23, 1935 2,270,580 Christy Jan. 20, 1942 2,475,279 Dunning July 5, 1949 2,488,704 Buttery Nov. 22, 1949 2,528,900 Meller Nov. 7, 1950 2,536,384 Meller Jan. 2, 1951 2,550,582 Meller Apr. 24, 1951 2,580,181 Meller Dec. 25, 1951 2,634,899 Meller Apr. 14, 1953 

